CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study:

         Many educationists have defined continuous assessment in different ways. The handbook on continuous assessment (FMEST, 1999) defined continuous assessment as a mechanism whereby the final grading of students in the cognitive, effective and psychomotor domains of behaviour take into account in a systematic way, all his performance during a given period of schooling.

Adebib (1999) saw continuous assessment as a systematic and objective process of determining the extend of a student’s performance in all the expected changes in his behaviour. This is assessment of the students.

         Ezewu and Okoye (1999) defined continuous assessment as a systematic and objective process of determining the extent of student’s performance in all the expected changed in his behaviour from the day he/she enters upon a course of study.

From the above definitions one can define continuous assessment as a system of assessment which is carried out as predetermined intervals for the purpose of monitoring and improving the overall performance of students and of the teaching learning environment.

         In all secondary schools, continuous assessment accounts for thirty-percent (30%) of a student’s performance in each subject, while in higher institutions, like the polytechnic allow forty-percent (40%) and University allow thirty-percent (30%) for in-course assessment. The concept of continuous assessment is not new in education. In developed countries like United States, Canada, Australia and England, continuous assessment is inbuilt into the teaching learning process, that is why it is one of the distractive features of the new National Policy on Education. In Nigeria, there are different views about the concept to the extent that some of them are misconceptions. According to Okpala, Onocha and Oyedeji (2005) continuous assessment is not continuous testing of the cognitive ability of students.

What is practiced in many schools is continuous testing where teachers administer tests on student on a fortnightly or monthly basis. This approach does not differ from the old system of assessment. The mode of interpretation does

not take into account other factors that may affect the students and the learning processes. Furthermore, the affective and psychomotor domains are usually neglected. The current continuous assessment technique is meant to replace the former one-short and end-of-term or year examination that was being alleged to be responsible for law performance of students in our schools. Yet despite all these, this study will like to find out the effect of continuous assessment on academic performance of students in Home Economics in Secondary Schools at Fegge in Onitsha South Local Government Area of Anambra State.

Statement of the Problem:

         There are various problems encountered by the teachers and student of Home Economics during the time of continuous assessment in Secondary School at Fegge in Onitsha South Local Government Area of Anambra State. These include insufficient supply of home economics equipment by the schools or the government. Lack of Home Economics Lab, teachers lacking enough training. Others include lack of finance, poor curriculum and crowded time table, these are some of the problems encountered by the teachers and students of Home Economics at the time of continuous assessment

 in Secondary Schools at Fegge Onitsha South Local Government Area of Anambra State.

Purpose of the Study:

(1)        The purpose of the study is to acquire information about the extent of the effect of continuous assessment on the academic performance of the students in home Economic.

(2)        To find out to what extents do teachers and student like to take part in continuous assessment.

(3)        This study will also go further to find out the problem continuous assessment pose on both the teacher

        and students

Significance of the Study:

The main reasons for the adoption of continuous assessment are as follows:

(a)         To give a teacher grater involvement in the overall assessment

(b)        To provide a more valid assessment of the child’s overall ability and performance

(c)         To enable the teachers to be more flexible and innovative in their instruction.

(d)        To provide a basis for more effective guidance of the students

(e)         To provide a basis for the teacher to improve his or her instructional methods

(f)          To reduce examination malpractices.

Scope of the study:

         The study is delaminated to cover all secondary schools at Fegge in Onitsha South Local Government Area of Anambra State but the researchers finally used four(4) secondary schools for the study due to financial problems and limited time for the project work. The schools used are Urban boys Secondary School at Palmer Street/ Uzodinmma Street Fegge.

Metu Secondary School at Emodi Street Fegge.

Promise International School at Akowa Street Fegge.

Research Question:                                  

To develop the instrument of study and carryout this study appropriately.

The following research question will be answered:

1.          To what extent is the effect of continuous assessment on the academic performance of the students?

2.          To what extent do teachers and students like to take part in continuous assessment?

3.          What problem does continuous assessment pose on the teachers and students?

Definition of terms:    

Cognitive: In the study cognitive means the ability to develop ones brain and to use his brain to invent, innovate self reliance and respect for human dignity of labour. The more tasks you give to brain the sharper the brain cause or get.

Psychomotor: In this study psychomotor is the ability to produce something with hands.

Mechanism: In this study mechanism means a structure of interacting parts working together. 

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